Electrically operated stenographic machine



ApriI 15, 1952 ELECTRICALLY Filed July 26, 1949 J. K. WATSON 2,593,371 OPERATED STENOGRAPHIC MACHINE 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTOR JEANNE TTE K. WATSON ATTORNEY 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 JEANNETTE K. WATSON /figumflwu ATTORNEY April 15, 1952 J. K. WATSON ELECTRICALLY OPERATED STENOGRAFHIC MACHINE Filed July 26, 1949 R R wk w. N mm Patented Apr. 15, 1952 ELECTRICALLY OPERATED STENOGRAPHIC MACHINE Jeannette K. Watson, New Canaan, Conn, assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 26, 1949, Serial No. 106,924

This invention relates to stenographic machines of the type used to record the spoken word. Such machines have been adapted to wide use in reporting conferences, court procedures, and the like, and in business offices for recording dictation.

It is a specific object of this invention to render a stenographic machine of the kind indicated operable by electric power. It is a further object of the invention to electrically actuate a common operating element of such machines, whereby certain functions of the machine are electrically executed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide electrical operating means for stenographic machines, which are of such simple design as to necessitate only minor changes in the machine structure, and such that will add little or no weight to the manually operated machines as presently constituted.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide in a stenographic machine electrical mechanism effective to perform certain of the operative functions without in any way interfering with the manual operation thereof. This concept is, accordingly, embodied in the machine to permit optional manual operation of the electrically motivated parts.

These and further objects of the invention will appear as a reading of the following particular description proceeds with regard to the drawings forming a part of this application, and in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine with certain of the casing portions broken away to show underlying structure;

Fig. '2 is a cross-sectional view of the upper part of the machine taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;.

bination of keys is depressed, the corresponding type bar or bars are moved against the ribbon to make an impression on the record sheet or strip. The platen is rotatably mounted in the machine, and a clutch, operatively connected through suitable mechanism, rotates the platen 3 Claims. (01. 197-9) 2 during the depression of the keys to advance the record strip or sheet past the printing station.

Herein are provided twenty-two keys, twentyone of which represent letters of the alphabet. By combinations of these letters, dictation or other oral utterances may be recorded phonetically. The twenty-second key l8 represents an asterisk.

The machine comprises generally a base supported on legs, a machine frame or chassis supported 0n and secured to the base, and a casing enclosing the frame and fitting over the base. The various parts constituting the operating mechanism proper are supported on the chassis and mainly within the casing. i

The chassis comprises spaced legs 20 and 22 joined together at the rear ends thereof by a relatively heavy horizontal platen supporting shaft 24 and at the forward ends thereof by a transverse frame member 26. The keys [0 and i8 are secured to the free end of key levers 2'! and 28, respectively, which are fulcrumed on a key lever shaft journaled at its opposite ends in the chassis. The type bars rest in a cradle 32 having upwardly extending guides between which the type bars move.

A numeral bar 34 is secured to one end of a numeral bar frame comprising a pair of spaced numeral bar levers 3'6 and 38, fulcrumed on the key lever shaft 30. The opposite ends of the numeral bar levers are joined by suitable linkage to the type bar cradle. On depression of the numeral bar, the numeral bar frame pivots about its fulcrum and raises the cradle through the connecting linkage. By raising the cradle, the type bars are moved upwardly through a short distance to bring the lower numeral type on the end of the bars into printing alignment with the platen.

A generally C-shaped universal bar frame 40, comprising a pair of universal levers at each side of the machine, is fulcrumed on a transverse frame shaft 42. Extending between the forward ends of the frame levers is a universal bar 44, which underlies the key levers in operative position thereto, so that depression of akey will be effective to rock the bar downwardly. The universal bar is in the form of an upwardly opening channel member, in which is positioned a felt cushion 46. At the rear end of the universal bar lever is an upwardly extending projection 48 having an inclined upper surface 50. As stated before, the key levers rest on the universal bar, so that, upon depression of a key, the universal bar M is moved downwardly. pivoting the frame levers thereof about their pivot points 42 to raise the projecting portion 48 of the universal lever, for a purpose which will be explained presently.

A stop bar 52 extends transversely across the machine at its forward end and overlies the key levers to limit the upward movement of the keys and. the numeral bar. The stop bar 52 comprises a downwardly opening channel member attached to the forward ends of the chassis legs 20 and 22. A felt block 54 is fixed in the channel member, the lower surface of the felt block engaging the upper edge of the key levers and the numeral bar levers. The ribbon I6 is an endless ribbon which passes in front of the type bars in contact with a pair of guide legs 56 and 58 attached to the cradle 32, and then around a ribbon spool 60. The spool 60 includes a top flange 62, a bottom flange 64, and a core 66. Secured to the bottom flange 64 of the ribbon spool is a ribbon spool gear 68 having a plurality of spaced slots for engaging a driving gear which is to be described hereinafter. Around the core 66 of the ribbon spool is secured an absorbent fabric adapted to absorb and hold ink for transfer to the ribbon as it comes into contact with the saturated fabric as the ribbon is fed through the machine.

A ribbon feed shaft 10 extends across the full width of the machine, and has its ends journaled in the chassis. Fixed to one end of the shaft is is a rubber disk 12 of sufficient width to provide a bearing surface. Mounted on the shaft Ill for rotation therewith inoperative association with the slots in the spool gear 68 is a driving pinion 14. The driving pinion is directly below the slots in the ribbon spool'gear, and the teeth of the pinion project into these slots. The spacing of the teeth on the pinion corresponds to the spacing of the slots about the ribbon spool gear, whereby rotation of the pinion will rotate the ribbon spool to effect feeding of the ribbon.

Extending upwardly and rearwardly from the universal lever 40 is an arm 16, which projects over the top of the rubber disk 72. The free end of the arm 16 has attached thereto a downwardly extending driving pawl 18, the pawl being yieldingly mounted on the arm by a transverse bearing pin 80. The lower curved edge of the pawl 18 rests in driving contact upon the peripheral surface of the rubber disk 12. On the other side of the disk 12 is a drag pawl 82, which is curved at its lower end, and which has a roughened surface disposed in engagement with the peripheral surface of the rubber disk. The drag pawl 82 is yieldingly secured to the side of the chassis by a screw 84.

As the universal bar 40 is rocked in a clockwise direction in response to the depression of a key, the upwardly extending arm 16 rotates about the axis of the lever in a clockwise direction to move the pawl 18 downwardly, thereby applying torque tothe disk 12' through the roughened surface of the pawl. During clockwise rotation of the disk 12, the drag pawl 82 is moved upwardly to relieve the friction between the roughened surface thereof. and the peripheral face of the rubber disk, thereby permitting the disk 12 to turn. Upon the return stroke of the key, the universal bar 49 returns in a counter-clockwise direction to its former position, moving the arm 16 and the driving .pawl lBin a counter-clockwise direction. While traveling in this direction, the pawl 18 pivots about itsaxis 80 torelieve the gripping action between the roughened surface thereof and the disk, thereby dragging the pawl over the pc- "ripheral surface of the disk. At the same time the friction between the roughened surfaces of the drag pawl 82 and the disk 12 rotates the drag pawl in a clockwise direction about its pivot point to increase the frictional resistance of the drag pawl on the disk, thereby holding the disk and preventing counter-clockwise rotation thereof.

As previously pointed out, the pinion 14 fixed to the ribbon feed shaft 10 drives the ribbon spool so that, as the, disk '!2 drives the ribbon feed shaft 10, the ribbon spool 66 is rotated in a clockwise direction. A pair of oppositely disposed ribbon pressure rollers 86 force the ribbon l6 against the fabric on the ribbon spool to provide a drive for the ribbon and to aid in the inking operation. A relatively narrow spool contacting surface may be embossed on the periphery of the pressure rollers 86 to concentrate the pressure on the ribbon against the spool in the medial portion of the ribbon, This concentrated pressure assures proper inking of the ribbon in the region where the type strikes. Each of these pressure rollers is mounted in a ribbon roll bracket 88. The ribbon roll brackets B8 are pivotally mounted on screws 90, so that the rollers may be moved into and out of operative position, while the ribbon spool is being replaced. All of the foregoing structure is specifically de scribed in United States Patent No. 2,387,330 granted to C. W. Johnson et a1.

Fixed to the platen shaft 24 is a one-way clutch mechanism 90, by means of which step-by-step rotation may be imparted to the platen for intermittently advancing the record sheet or strip through the printing zone. The clutch mechanism 90 has a system of links and levers, by means of which the clutch is operated upon rise and fall of the upwardly extending projection 50 at the far end of the universal bar lever 40. Specifically, there is provided herein a toggle arrangement having one end thereof pivotally secured to the clutch device and the other end thereof secured to the machine frame. The toggle arrangement consists of a link 92 having one end 94 thereof pivoted to the clutch mechanism. The opposite end of the link 92 is pivoted to a lever 96 by means of a transverse connection 98, which connection also supports a spring anchor I00. The opposite end of the lever 96 is pivoted to a mounting bracket I02 by means of a connector I04, The mounting bracket N32 is pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a pivot screw I06. The inner end of the mounting bracket N32 has formed thereon an inwardly extending 'is adjustably mounted in a slot H2 by means of an adjusting screw I I4. By virtue of the slot and screw mounting of the stop roller He, the roller may be adjusted to regulate the extent to which the toggle arrangement may be moved in an upward direction. The stop roller I I0 normally lies in contact with the upturned projection 50 of the universal bar lever 40. The toggle is urged into a downwardly disposed position by means of a spring I I 6, which has one end thereof attached to the spring anchor I00 and the other end thereof attached to a stud I I8 secured in the machine frame. I

It will follow from a consideration of the foregoing arrangement that the spring llfi, through the toggle arrangement, tends to urge the clutch device 90 in a counter-clockwise direction, and in this direction of movement the clutch mechanism has no operative effect on the platen shaft 24. However, when the universal bar-44 is depressed and the universal bar lever 40 is rocked on its fulcrum so that the upwardly projecting end 50 thereof is forced into contact with the stop roller I I0, the toggle mechanism will be moved into an upwardly disposed position, with the result that the toggle pivot point 94 on the clutch mechanism is rotated in a clockwise direction. Clockwise direction of rotation of the clutch mechanism is operatively effective to 1'0- tate the platen shaft 24 in a clockwise direction, and consequently, the attached platen is also rotated in the same direction and is thus rendered operative to feed the record strip upwardly to bring a blank portion thereof into the printing zone.

Insofar as the mechanism has now been described, it will follow that downward depression of the universal bar 44 by depression of any one of the keys is effective to bring about two necessary mechanical operations. In the first place, the ribbon spool is rotated step by step, and in the second place, the platen is rotated in a clockwise direction in step by step order. As a result of these operations, the ribbon is fed past the printing station and successive areas of new record sheets are brought into the line of the type at the printing zone.

The particular object of this invention is to provide means for electrically operating an operating element of the machine, and accordingly, in the specific application of the invention a single clectro-magnetic device has been provided to operate the universal bar 44 upon partial depression of any one of the keys. Herein a solenoid I20 has been mounted on the machine base I22 by means of a mounting bracket I24 The solenoid I20 is disposed with its axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine and trans versely of the machine base to underlie the universal bar lever 40. The core I26 of the solenoid is fashioned to serve as a universal bar operating lever. Consequently, the outer end thereof includes oppositely disposed arms I28 and I30, by means of which the same may be attached to the universal bar. When so attached, reciprocation of the core I26 will serve to rock the universal bar lever 40 in the same fashion as though it were rocked by depression of any of the keys.

It is not intended, however, that it be necessary with this structure to fully depress the keys to realize a complete operation of the universal bar lever, and consequently, the solenoid I20 has been placed in an electric circuit, which includes a normally open circuit maker I32, which is operatively disposed with reference to the keys and the universal bar 44. The structure herein is such that depression of any one of the keys will set in motion associated mechanism for closing the circuit maker I32, thereby closing an electrical circuit in which the solenoid I20 is included, so that upon initial depression of a key the universal bar 44 and its associated universal bar lever will be fully rocked through their operative movement by operation of the solenoid.

Specifically, the circuit maker I32 includes a pair of spring contact fingers I34 and I36, which have on the free ends thereof a pair of contact points I38 and I40, respectively. The spring fingers I34 and I36 are normally spaced to keep the contact points I38 and I40 separated, thereby maintaining open the circuit in which the solenoid I20 is included. Attached to the forward end of the universal bar lever 40 for free finger I36 of the circuit maker.

swinging movement in a non-conducting circuit closing pawl I42, having a shoulder I44 adapted to contact and depress the spring finger I36 of the circuit maker. The circuit closing pawl I42 is pivoted to the forward end of the universal bar lever by means of a bearing stud I46, and the pawl is urged about its pivot in. a clockwise direction by means of a spring I48, which has one end thereof anchored in a forwardly projecting spring anchor ear I50 constituting a part of the circuit closing pawl I42, and which has its other end fixed to a finger I52 extending forwardly from the universal bar lever at an elevation somewhat higher than the normal position of the spring anchoring ear I50. As a consequence of the spring I48, the circuit closing pawl I42 is urged in a clockwise direction, so that the shoulder I44 thereof overlies the spring It follows, consequently, that upon downward rocking movement of the universal bar 44 in a counter-clockwise direction, the shoulder I44 resting in contact with the spring finger I36 will depress the finger and move the contact points I38 and I40 into circuit closing position.

The circuit closing pawl I42 has an ear I54 extending in a direction opposite to the ear I and projecting laterally from the ear I54 is a release stud I'54a. The release stud I54a lies in the vertical plane of the inturned finger I56 of a release abutment I58. The abutment I58 may be adjusted in a vertical direction by reason of a lost motion slot I60, through which the anchoring screws I62 extend.

It follows, therefore, that continued downward movement of the universal bar, and consequently, continued downward movement of the circuit closing pawl I42, will bring the release stud I54a into contact with the inturned finger I56 of the release abutment I58, and thereby rock the circuit closing pawl I42 on its pivot I46, the rocking movement being of such extent in a counterclockwise direction that the spring finger contacting shoulder I44 will be swung clear of the contact finger I36. In the meanwhile, however, a circuit holding detent I64, pivoted for rocking movement on a bearing stud I66, has been swung in a counter-clockwise direction to engage the shouldered end of an upwardly projecting finger I68 thereon with the end of the depressed spring finger I36 of the circuit maker. As a consequence of this engagement, the contact points I38 and I40 are held in engagement and the circuit remains closed. The circuit holding detent I64 is urged in a counter-clockwise direction by means of a spring I10, which has one end thereof attached to the circuit holding" detent and the other end thereof attached to the base of the circuit maker I32.

When the circuit holding detent I64 is in operation, the release of a depressed key and the consequent clockwise rocking of the universal bar 44 has no effect on the circuit that has been established. Consequently, it is necessary to provide a positive circuit breaking mechanism, which will become operative to break the circuit upon completion of the operative stroke of the universal bar leevr 40. Such mechanism is provided by modifying the universal bar lever 40 to embody therein a downwardly and forwardly projecting release finger I12, which extends into the plane of a laterally extending stud I14 formed on a rearwardly and upwardly extending portion I16 of the circuit holding detent I64. The proportion and disposition of these parts are such that the forwardly and downwardly extending j member I12 will contact the laterally extending stud I14 at the end of the operative stroke of the universal bar lever 40. As a consequence of this contact, the circuit holding detent I46 is 'rocked about its pivot I66 and the holding shouland the circuit, including the solenoid I20 and the circuit maker I32, will be broken and de- -energized, whereupon the universal lever 40 and -the universal bar 44 will return to their normal inoperative position. 7

It will appear from the foregoing, therefore, that an extremely simple power operating device has been provided-for performing certain functions of stenographic machine mechanism, and

withal such device has been provided without either substantial modification of the machine elements or without in any way disturbing the manual operativeness of the structure.

The machine is provided with a plurality of legs I80, upon which it is adapted to rest, and encasing the structure is an outer casing 192, which includes a removable cover I84, through which the ribbon mechanism may be exposed uponremoval of the cover. A suitable cable passage I86 is provided through one side of the casing.

The invention has been shown herein in a single form, which is presently preferable, but this form has been used merely for the purpose of this exposition. It follows that various changes may be made in the structure without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is the following:

1. In a stenographic machine adapted for manual and electrical operation having a plurality of keys, a type bar for each of said keys, key

levers operably connecting each key with its respective type bar, an operating element mechanically independent of but operable by the depression of a key extending transversely under said key levers in operative proximity thereto, ribbon feed and paper feed mechanisms operable by said operating element, a single electromagnetic device, means operably connecting said operating element and said electro-magnetic device, and means for energizing said electromagnetic device upon depression of any of said keys.

2. In a stenographic machine adapted for man ual and electrical operation having a plurality of keys, a type bar for each of said keys, key levers operably connecting each key with its respective type bar, an operating element mechanically independent of but operable by the depression of a key extending transversely under said key levers in operative proximity thereto, ribbon feed and paper feed mechanisms operable by said operating, element, an electro-magnetic device, means operably connecting said operating element and said electro-magnetic device, and means carried by said operating element for energizing said electro-magnetic device upon depression of any of said keys.

3. In a stenographic machine adapted for manual and electrical operation having a plurality of keys, a type bar for each of said keys, key levers operably connecting each key with its respective type bar, an operating element mechanically independent of but operable by the depression of a key extending transversely under said key levers in operative proximity thereto, ribbon feed and paper feed mechanisms operable by said operating element, an electro-magnetic device, means operably connecting said operating element and said electro-magnetic device, and means for energizing said electro-magnetic device upon depression of any of said keys.

J EANNETTE K. WATSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 250,697 Wheless H Dec. 13, 1881 1,040,584 Schaaff Oct. 8, 1912 1,080,028 Vogel Dec. 2, 1913 1,927,761 Tauschek Sept. 19, 1933 2,390,414 Ayres et al Dec. 4, 1945 

